Sad encounter with old man in park just. :-(

[tiredemma]

We have been taking our Spaniel puppy walking in the local park really frequently since she has had her jabs. On a number of occasions we have seen the same old man with his very, very old golden labrador. He has stopped to chat etc- complimented us on our pup, his dog had a fair old sniff around our dog etc etc.
Saw him today - minus his dog - she passed away at the weekend. She was 15 years old- he (and his late wife) had her as a pup. He looked so desperately sad, I actually started welling up as he spoke to me.
He is still walking the same route that he did with his dog. God its so sad. I don't even know him but feel utterly devastated for him.
My 8 year old (tactless) asked him- "why don't you go and get another dog?"-
He replied that he was "too old" now

have horrible mental image of him being at home alone with no companion.

I have a lump in my throat just reading that

Maybe you could adopt him as a dog walker for your dog.

Aw, if he is someone you have seen reguarly, could you not engineer it so you meet him every day and join him for his walk? He would probably enjoy the company of both your puppy and your dc.

Oh how sad.

That poor, poor man. Perhaps in time, when he feels a little less fragile you could point him in the direction of the oldies club or the cinnamon trust

Both of which would have either older dogs looking for a quiet comapanion to spend the rest of their twilight years with or would have dogs that need walking by a caring soul such as himself.

Just what I was going to post!

Oh, that's so sad. Poor man

Awwww

oh, why did i read this

Bless. That is very sad. I hope he has family nearby.

Perhaps he would like to walk your dog sometimes? Maybe a bit soon but something to bear in mind.

I had little silent tears rolling down my face as I drove home.

Good idea about trying to meet up with him again -

Just made me realise how much a dog can take away that 'loneliness' for people-

Poor man, I feel sad for him

.

oh so so sad. :(

We get this a lot, cos we puppy walk, especially with the wee pups. And people reminisce.

I try and dash off if I hear the words "we had....." and leave dh to it, but often I get to hear it when am out on my own with the pup.

Oh poor old guy

We lost our dog (same age) last week too - he must be so sad and lost without his doggie

Dogs are so wonderful at being social "bridges" - they provide a real opportunity for people to talk, to meet and for elderly people to get out of the house regularly. I have made some lovely friends through dog walking and met some really nice folk at our regular "spots". Just wanted to endorse Dooin's suggestions about Cinnamon Trust and oldies club. Fostering for a local charity might also be an option?

Awwww.
Could you try and make your park walk a regular thing and invite him to join you??
Then maybe he gets the joy of a dog without the obligations.

Poor man. This has made me cry. I dread the time when I will be too old to have a dog

How sad. :(

Would he perhaps consider re-homing an older dog from a rescue home? I bet there is a lovely old boy or girl in one of your local rescue centres who would love to be his companion.

He is really old ( I would say early-mid 80's)- he walks so slow (so did his lovely golden lab).

Both myself and DS2 want to go and 'look' for him tomorrow with our pup and hopefully have a longer chat with him. It would absolutely warm me up inside to think he might be willing to 'walk' with us and our pup.

I hope we can help him- I would hope that he has some family also.

Ahh that's the thing with dogs and I wouldnt be without one especially if I didnt have any other people in my life. They give you something to love and look after and a reason to keep going and have to get up in the morning and all that. But they always break your heart in the end - theres only one fatal flaw in mans natural best friend and that is the difference in our lifespans. But I think everything happens for a reason and at least he has met a lovely caring soul like yourself whom I am sure will help him in any way you can.

Aw that's sad.

:(

Yes Cake I got a lovely Border Collie - nine years old from our local rescue centre - for my 82 yr old father who was lost when his dog died. They actually let me have him for free as they said they didnt expect to be able to home him at that age. My dad loves him and has been given a new lease of life and they get on famously.